Wing-propeller for aircraft



F. F. slMoNs.

WHiG PROPELLEH FQR AIRCRAFT. APPLICATION FILED 'uGJr, 1919.

1,355,112. muted oon 5,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHET l.

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F. F. SIMONS.

WING PROPELLER FOR AIRCRAFT.

APPLICATION FILED Au ;.21.1919.

1,355,112.. .Patented oct. 5,1920.

UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK F. SIMONS, 0F HARMONY, Il?ENNSYLVANIA.

WING-PROPELLER FOR .AIRCRAFT Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented ccas, 1920.

Application filed August 21, 1919. Serial No. 319,009.

. craft during travel through the air, the

Ytimedfor simultaneous operation.

A still further object of my invention is to positively actuate themembers of each wing and giving uniformity to the opening and closing ofthe propellerduring operation.

With these general objects in view the invention consists of the novelcombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described inconnection with the accompanying drawings and in which like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.`

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my wing propeller closed,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the propeller open,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view as shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of an end portion of the propeller open,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the opposite end portion thereof,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, at the opposite side of thepropeller,

Fig. 8 is4 an' elevational view of the outer end of the propeller andFig. 9 is a perspective view of the trunnioning member adjacent theinner end of the propeller.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, my invention is illustrated inthe nature of yrations 28 Vin the forward side 26 o positive Aopeningand closing means for a propeller of the type found in my pendingapplication upon flying machine, Serial No. 268,147, filed December 24,1918, whereby7 the positive opening Iand closing of the wings 10 and 11of the propeller is automatically accomplished during the backward andforward movements of the shaft 12, during the swinging operation.

combined trunnioning and stop bracket 13 is fixed to the outer end ofthe shaft 12,

while a trunnioning bracket 14 is secured to the shaft Y1.2 inwardly ofthe bracket 13, openings 15 and 16 being provided for said shaft throughthe brackets 13 and 14', respectively. The bracket 13 maybe secured tothe shaft 12 by struck out portions 17 Vwhile the. bracket 14 is securedto the shaft by a clevis-form of clamp 18. v

The wings 10 and 11 have projecting stub axles 19 at the opposite endsof the wings adjacent their inner edges for'trunnioning in bearings 2Oprovided in alinement through the brackets 13 and 14, whereby the wingsare permitted to swin toward and away from each other. trengthenngplates 21 are provided at each inner corner of the wings 10 and 117 thesaid plates at the outer ends of the lwings resting upon inwardlyprojecting stops 22 of the bracket 13 when the wings are outstretchedinsubstantially the lsame plane, which is calculated to-be vertical duringthe propelling stroke.

YInwardly projecting fingers 23 at the opposite side of the bracket 13from the stops 22 and positioned toward the rear when the propeller isinstalled upon an aircraft are adapted for engagement by the 'adjacentplates 21 when the wings 10 and 11 are, closed for the recovery stroke.Positive opening and closing means for the wings or blades 10 and 11 areprovided for the bracket 14 consisting of a substantially rectangularframe 24 straddling the shaft 12 and slidably mounted throughperforations 25 in the parallel sides'26 and 27 of said bracket. Thesesides 26 and 27 projectv inwardly toward the'fuselage or body of theaircraft,'not shown, and the clevisj18, heretofore mentioned, is securedthrough erfo sait bracket with the shaft 12'eXtending between the sides26 and 27.

Substantially right angular arms 29 have Y portions 30 at correspondingends secured to the wings 10 and 11, 'and the opposite ends of said armsare pivoted las at 31, to curved links 32, which links are in turnpivoted as at 33, to the forward end of theframe 24. lt will be evidentthat the longitudinaljshifting of the frame 24 positively accomplishesthe opening and closing of the wings or blades 10 and 11, said armshaving intermediate portions 34 suitably curved for accommodating thesimultaneous action of the arms. Shoulders 35 are also provided in thearm portions34 acting as'stops for they adjacent wings andassisting thestops' the circumferential path of movement of the forward pivotalportion 33 of the frame 24, as indicated .by the arrow 33.

When the buffer 35 is struck by said por-l tion 33 of the frame duringthe forward movement of the propellers, the wings 10 and 11 are forcedto their'openposition with the plates 21 of the wings engaging the stops22 of the bracket 13 and the shoulders 35 of thev arms 29. The propelleris then in position forV its rearwardly swinging power stroke withtherear end or cross head 36 ofthe frame 24 moving in an arcuatelinetowardthe post or buffer 37 suitably positioned upon theaircraft as at 12bafter the manner of the post 35 already described. The engagement of theframe end 36 with the post37 inscribing the arcuate path indicated bythe arrow 36 forcibly closes the blades 10 and 11 with the propellerready for its forward recovery stroke.

Theconstruction and operation of my propellers have been fully set forthand the manner of installation upon an aircraft such as a dirigible oraeroplane will be apparent.

l.My form of propellers will be provided at opposite sides of theaircraft in pairs or singly as found desirable and by meansrof Vthepositive opening and closing action herein set forth, the pairs o r setsof propellers may be accurately timed for synchronous operation whilethe. individual blades of each propeller will positively operateuniformly.,

ile the form of theinvention herein set forth is believed preferable itwill be understood that `changes and variations may beV made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. j

What I claim as new and desire lto secure by Letters Patent is: Y 1. Apropeller comprising wings, a swing- Yeach other, inwardly projectingstops upon ing shaft, trunnioning brackets for the wings fixed to saidshaft, operating arms for the wings, and an actuator slidably carried byone of said brackets pivotally linked to said arms.V

2. Apropeller comprising Aa swinging shaft, brackets spaced upon saidshaft, wings trunnioned adjacent their inner edges between the saidbrackets and adapted for swinging movement toward and away from eachother, and automatic opening means forthe wings adapted for operationwhen the shaft is atthe reverse of itsswinging movements. V

3. A propeller comprising a swinging shaft, brackets spaced upon saidshaft, wings trunnioned adjacent their inner edges between the saidbrackets and adapted for swinging movementtoward and away from Vsaidbrackets adapted ffor flatly engaging the adjacent corner portions ofthewings when theV wings are outstrete'ched in their operative openposition and automatic openg ing and closing means for the wings carriedby one of said brackets.`

4. A propeller comprising a swinging shaft, brackets spaced upon Vsaidshaft, wings trunnioned adjacent their inner edges between the saidbrackets and adaptedfor swinging movement toward and away fromeachother, inwardlyprojecting stops upon said brackets adapted forflatly engaging the adjacent corner portions of'V the wings when thewings are outstretched in their operative open position, a frameYspanning theV shaft slidably carried by the innermost one of saidbrackets,angular operating arms attached to said wings and'pivotalconnectionsbetween'one endl of the frame and the adjacent ends o f saidarms. y Y 5. A device of the class described comprising a swingingshaft, brackets fixed to4 said shaft, wings trunnioned between saidVbrackets, a shiftable frame uponone of said v brackets, operating armsfor the wings pivotally connected to said frame, and relatively iiXedmeans within the path of travel Y of the opposite ends of said frameadapted for engagement bythe ends` of the frame whereby the position ofthe frame is changed Y Yrelatively to its `mounting bracket during theoperation of the device. Y j Y 6. A propeller comprising a swingingshaft, Aspaced brackets fixed to the shaft, wings trunnioned .betweensaid brackets adapted for opening and closing, a frame straddling the'shaft and slidably carried by the innermost one of saidbrackets,simultaneously operating means between. said vframe' and wings, and postmembers relatively iiXed respecting the shaft adapted for engagement bythe opposite ends ofthe Y frame during the swinging movement of theshaft, vwhereby the wings are positively opened and closed during theoperation of the device.

, .f f. A propeller comprising a swingingv shaft, spaced brackets fixedto theshaft, wings trunnioned between said brackets adapted for openingand closing, a frame straddling the shaft and slidably carried by theinnermost one of said brackets, simultaneously operating means betweensaid frame and wings, and post members relatively fixed respecting theshaft adapted for engagement by the opposite ends of the frame at thetermination of the power and recovery strokes7 whereby the wings areautomatically opened at the end of the recovery stroke and closed at thetermination of the power stroke.

8. A propeller comprising a swinging shaft, wings trunnioned upon theshaft, a frame shiftable perpendicnlarly of the shaft and operativelyconnected to the wings, and stop members within the arcuate path oftravel of the frame, one of said buffer memis at the forward limit ofits, movement y whereby the wings are automatically opened, the otherstop member being adapted for engagement by the opposite end of theframe when the shaftis at the limit of its rearward swinging movementwhereby the wings are automatically closed for therecovery stroke.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

FRANK F. SIMONS.

